Injury pad



0a. 23, 1951 R. F. LOGAN 2,572,360

' INJURY PAD Filed MaICh 23, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 0t.23, 1951 l RELOGAN 2,572,360

INJURY PAD Filed March 23, 1948 2 sHEETssHEEr 2 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITE DV S TATES PAT VF F ICE I 2,572,360v I INJURY PAD)v Rolanclj;lf-.Lpg an, Losngeles, Calif. Application March 23, 1948, Serial No. 16,591

I 3 claims; (CL2-24) This invention relates to injury pads and more particularly to a pad Which is adapted to interchangeable use on various parts of a human body.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pad of soft material which may be affixed to a vulnerable body area for the prevention of injuries or for the protection of injuries that may have been received. The pad may nd an extensive use in physical contact sports, such as football and hockey.

Specifically, the pad provides a body covering unit consisting of a semi-cylindrical limb embracing section and a quadrispherical end section which provides a cup-like protector for a joint or the like, particularly susceptible to injury. In its most specific form, the pad is molded of soft rubber in the shape specified, and is adapted to be removably attached to the human anatomy by means of ordinary surgical tape.

Further advantages and objects of the invention Will appear and the full nature of the pad will be understood as the description herein is read in connection with the drawings forming a part of the application, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the injury pad applied to a human knee.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pad showing the normal shape thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective vieW of the pad applied to a shoulder joint.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pad applied to an elbow.

Fig. '7 is a perspective View of the pad applied to a human hip.

The pad I0 is composed of a body of relatively thick, soft, shock-absorbing material, and it consists of a flexible, semi-cylindrical body section I2 and a exible, quadrispherical end section I4. The semi-cylindrical section I2 is adapted to partially encircle and embrace a limb, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7, while the quadrispherical section I4 forms a protective cup over the injured area or over an area that is particularly vulnerable to injury.

In the specific embodiment herein illustrated, the pad is molded of soft, flexible, and to some extent elastic, rubber. 'Ihe softness, flexibility and limited elasticity of the material requires that the pad be reinforced, and such reinforcemencisr` hereinfl provided by;V an inelastic,V tougli4 fabric facing I6 which is permanently attached, as by cementing or vulcanizing, to the outer face of the semi-cylindrical section I2. The attached facing I6 extends overI the major portion of the semi-cylindrical section I2.

The function of the inelastic, tough fabric facing I6 is two-fold. When the pad is molded of relatively soft, cellular rubber, the face of such rubber material is usually susceptive to easy rupture and tearing. Inasmuch as the pad is designed for application to body areas by means of an adhesive strip, the repeated application and removal of such strips Would rapidly destroy the body of the pad by tearing from the adhesive strip receiving face thereof, pieces of the rubber material. Such tearing and gradual destruction is avoided by permanently aflixing to the face of the adhesive strip receiving portion, the tough fabric covering I6. As a consequence of the durable nature of the facing I6, adhesive strip may be applied and removed repeatedly without in any way affecting the adhesive strip receiving surface of the pad.

Perhaps a more important function of the inelastic facing IB is its cooperation with the quadrispherical section to impart to the pad a certain degree of rigidity which is necessary if the quadrispherical section I4 is to be properly positioned over the body areas to be protected. Thus, While the quadrispherical section I4 is perfectly iiexible and to some extent elastic, the semi-cylindrical section I2 is rendered completely inelastic and less flexible by the fabric facing I6. This difference in the character of the sections I2 and I4 aids materially in shaping the pad to various areas that are to be protected. Thus, in Fig. 1, the pad in its more or less natural shape is well adapted to protect the Wearers knee. The pad in a slightly altered shape is equally Well adapted for application to a shoulder, as seen in Fig. 5. The utility of the inelastic fabric facing I6 is, however, most marked when the pad is substantially deformed for application to areas such as an elbow or hip, as particularly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The quadrispherical section operates to lend stability to the cup-shaped end. Because of the rounded inner marginal edges of the quadrispherical section, all danger of lipping-out is avoided when the pad is conformed to any given body area.

One of the appealing advantages of the pad as herein described, lies in the fact that a pad of single shape and unembellished by fastening straps or the like, is capable of substantially universal application to the body joints by the simple expedient of deformng the pad to the required contour, and removably attaching the pad by means of adhesive tape i8 as may be required.

Having described the invention in a specific 5 fabric facing attached only to the entire outer 10 inelastic fabric facing attached only to the entire 15 outer surface of said semi-cylindrical body sec- `tion.,

3. A pre-formed injury pad of soft rubber consisting of a flexible semi-cylindrical body section,

a flexible quadrispherical end section having 20 rounded inner marginal edges and an inelastic 4 fabric facing permanently attached only to the entire outer surface of said semi-cylindrical body section.

ROLAND F. LOGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,637,116 Kelley July 26, 1927 2,188,718-` Jung Jan. 30, 1940 2,363,058 Gill Nov. 21, 1944 2,377,339 Greene June 5, 1945 2,487,423 Cast Nov. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 504,288 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1939 

